Standard Lemma guide

froe

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /fɹəʊ/
  • US: /fɹoʊ/
  • rhymes with -əʊ
  • homophone: 'fro
  • homophone: fro

1

noun

Meaning 1

A cleaving tool for splitting cask staves and shingles from a block of wood.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: throe

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A dirty woman; a slattern; a frow.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Examples

  • 1630, Michael Drayton, Nymphal IV, [from The Muses Elizium], 1793, The Works of the British Poets, Volume 3: Drayton, Carew & Suckling, page 618, Like to those raging frantic froes / For Bacchus' feasts prepared;

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Abbreviation of obsolete frower, from froward (“turned away”), referring to the orientation of the blade, at right angles to the handle. From late 16th century.

See frow.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Portuguese: fendeleira — cleaving tool for splitting cask staves and shingles from a block of wood
  • Russian: колу́н (kolún) — cleaving tool for splitting cask staves and shingles from a block of wood